Noise Elimination for Enhanced Speech Recognition

This Phase II SBIR proposal describes an innovative towelette for the decontamination of organophosphorous nerve agents from skin, wounds, and other sensitive surfaces of exposed military personnel. The towelette consists of a cotton fabric on which isimmobilized an Organophosphate Hydrolase (OPH) that has been demonstrated to hydrolyze Sarin, Soman, Tabun, VX, and Russian-VX. In Phase I, this novel towelette was prepared and was shown to hydrolyze a variety of nerve agent surrogates. In addition, thetowelette retained activity when stored at elevated temperature for weeks. The towelette was also used to decontaminate an artificial surface contaminated with a nerve agent surrogate and in a separate, preliminary experiment, the towelette was shown notto produce any redness, swelling, and/or irritation when applied to human skin for 24 hours. Acetycholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) were also immobilized on the towelette demonstrating the compatibility of the coupling chemistry withother enzymes.In Phase II, Lynntech, Inc. will collaborate with Texas A&M University and the Battelle Memorial Institute to further develop and evaluate the decontamination towelette. Phase II tasks include immobilization of a cocktail of enzymes including OPH, AChE,and BChE and optimization of the towelette activity. Phase II tasks also include optimization of the stability of the towelette, immunogenicity testing of the towelette, and decontamination of live rabbit skin contaminated with either Sarin, Soman, or VX.The Phase II research will conclude with the delivery of 100 OPH towelettes to the Department of Defense for further testing and evaluation.